Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has accused President William Ruto of attempting to influence the postponement of the upcoming Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, as concerns grow over electoral malpractice.
In a statement on Thursday, July 9, Gachagua alleged that the President has spent heavily in the constituency in a bid to win support, claiming the efforts have failed to shift voter sentiment ahead of the July 16 poll.
“Mr. William Ruto has spent over KSh1 billion on bribes in Ol Kalou Constituency, and it is not working. And it will not work,” he said.
He further claimed that billions more have been channelled into development projects in the area without political gain.
Gachagua linked these claims to the recent warning by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that the by-election could be postponed if cases of violence and voter bribery continue.
According to the former deputy president, there is a deliberate plan to create conditions that would justify a delay. He alleged that groups could be mobilised to cause unrest in the coming days, giving the electoral body grounds to halt the process.
“The new plan is to unleash goons this weekend to cause violence and give the IEBC the reason they so desperately need to postpone the election,” he claimed.
He also questioned the independence of the electoral commission, accusing it of failing to act on alleged violations of the Electoral Code of Conduct by senior government officials.
“It is absurd that the IEBC has looked the other way as Cabinet Ministers and Principal Secretaries openly bribe voters and campaign in violation of the law,” he said.
Gachagua went further to allege that pressure was being exerted on the commission to either guarantee victory for the ruling party candidate or delay the poll. He did not provide evidence to support the claims.
The IEBC has not responded to the allegations but has maintained that it is monitoring the situation and will take action where necessary to ensure a credible election.
Despite the rising political tension, the by-election remains scheduled for Thursday, July 16, 2026.
Gachagua insisted that the election must proceed as planned, arguing that residents of Ol Kalou have a constitutional right to representation.
“The people of Ol Kalou are ready to elect their Member of Parliament. The IEBC must conduct the by-election in accordance with the law and ensure there is no violence or ballot stuffing,” he said.
He warned that failure to conduct the poll would raise doubts about the commission’s ability to manage future elections, including the 2027 General Election.
“If the IEBC cannot handle a simple by-election, how will it convince Kenyans that it can oversee a general election?” he posed.
The dispute now places the Ol Kalou by-election at the centre of a broader political contest over electoral integrity, accountability, and public confidence in the country’s electoral systems.